Antibacterial neck-tie

ABSTRACT

The neck-tie according to the present invention is made with an antibacterial yarn. This yarn presents intrinsic antibacterial properties and performs both a bacteriostatic and a bactericidal function. Said yarn is obtained by means of a procedure that entails adding, before the spinning phase, an antibacterial agent that comprises a dispersion of silver atoms or ions directly to the material that will go to form the yarn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns the field of clothing accessories, andspecifically neck-ties.

The purpose of the invention is to produce a neck-tie that, whileconserving all the necessary characteristics required to optimallyperform the function of clothing accessory for which it is destined, atthe same time makes it possible to minimise the origin andmultiplication of bacteria, microbes, fungi, viruses, germs andparasites inside the fabric of the neck-tie.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of achieving this purpose, the present invention has as itsobject a neck-tie characterised in that it is made with an antibacterialyarn.

In the present description and in the attached claims, by “antibacterialyarn” it is intended to indicate both a “bacteriostatic” yarn, that is ayarn capable of inhibiting the proliferation and reproduction ofbacteria, and a “bactericidal” yarn, that is a yarn capable ofeliminating bacteria that come into contact with, or are deposited on,the yarn.

It should be noted that of themselves antibacterial yarns are alreadyknown to technology and are likewise available on the market. However,the idea of applying a yarn of this type to a neck-tie, in order to giveit a new utility, forms the specific object of the present invention.

Thanks to the above characteristics, the neck-tie according to thepresent invention may in fact to used to advantage by health-sectorprofessionals, and in particular by medical and nursing staff working incontact with patients in hospital settings and in medical surgeries, inorder to limit the proliferation and transmission of bacteria, as wellas in general by whomsoever is aware of this problem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics of the invention will be clear in the followingdescription, with reference to the attached drawings, provided as asimple non-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a neck-tie according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 shows the neck-tie of FIG. 1 in the tied condition, and

FIG. 3 shows a second example of a neck-tie according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As already indicated above, in the present description by “antibacterialyarn” it is intended to indicate both a “bacteriostatic” yarn, that is ayarn capable of inhibiting the proliferation and reproduction ofbacteria, and a “bactericidal” yarn, that is a yarn capable ofeliminating bacteria that come into contact with the yarn or aredeposited on it.

The need to protect fabrics from bacterial contamination has over theyears led to the development of two different types of productionprocess to obtain antibacterial yarns.

The first production process involves applying a protectiveantibacterial coating to a yarn made of natural, synthetic or artificialfibres, on conclusion of the spinning phase and during the finishingphase. This process is also known by the term nobilitation. Fabric wovenwith such yarn has an antibacterial property that is substantiallylocated on its outer surface. In this case successive cycles of washingor cleaning the fabric may alter the protective coating, decreasing itsantibacterial effectiveness. Furthermore, since the antibacterialsubstance is present on the external protective coating, it can easilybe transferred, by contact, from the fabric to the user's skin, thuscreating a possible source of allergies and/or dermatitis.

The second production process entails adding an antibacterial agent(comprised for example of silver atoms or ions) directly to the materialthat will be employed to form the yarn, before the spinning phase. Thissecond production process is particularly advantageous for theproduction of yarns of synthetic or artificial fibre. The fabric madewith this yarn will be provided with intrinsic antibacterial properties,incorporated within the structure of the yarn. In this way theantibacterial efficacy is guaranteed over time, whereas the mechanicaland aesthetic characteristics of the yarn remain substantiallyunchanged.

Antibacterial properties may act in two different ways:

by contact, in which the antibacterial agent placed on the fibre doesnot disperse externally, and in which contact between the bacterium andthe fibre is necessary to achieve an antibacterial action, or

by diffusion, in which the antibacterial agent placed on the surface orwithin the fibre is capable of dispersing at varying rates in a dampexternal medium to reach the bacteria and inhibit their proliferation.

On the market there are numerous antibacterial yarns developed fordifferent applications.

As examples, we mention the yarn known under the trade-name “MerylSkinlife”, which is a yarn of polyamide microfibre with silver ionspresent in the polymer matrix marketed by the French manufacturersNylstar, and the yarn “Trevira Bioactive”, marketed by the Germancompany Trevira, which is a synthetic polyester fibre with silver ionsthat give the fabric very elevated hygienic requisites.

The antibacterial properties of yarns that contain silver ions arepermanent, since the antibacterial agent is present within the polymermatrix of the yarn. In fabrics that contain silver ions theantibacterial properties occur by contact with the bacteria.

Furthermore, the bacteriostatic properties of silver ions have also beenfound to be very useful to prevent the formation of unpleasant smells,allergies, and skin irritations.

The bactericidal action of silver ions occurs through the creation of achemical bond with some of the protein components of the bacteria,causing denaturing and in consequence mortal damage to their metabolism.

The silver ions are inserted chemically within the fibres of the fabricduring the production process, and thus they exercise their bactericidalfunction without migrating on the surface of the fabric and thence tothe epidermis of the zones with which the fabric is in contact. Thistype of fabric is thus harmless both for the user and for theenvironment and it maintains its antibacterial qualities unaltered overtime.

With reference to FIG. 1, the neck-tie comprises a body 1 made offabric. The body 1 of the neck-tie presents the characteristic stripshape with one wide end 2 and a second narrow end 3. The narrow end 3 ofthe neck-tie 1, during use (see FIG. 2), is made to pass beneath thecollar of a shirt and tied in different ways to make a knot 4. On thecontrary, during use, the wide end 2 is made to hang down the chest suchthat the end portion 2 a of said wide end reaches the level of theuser's trousers. The terminal portions of the two ends 2 and 3 alsopresent the characteristic pointed shape.

The body 1 of the neck-tie according to the present invention is madewith an antibacterial yarn with intrinsic antibacterial properties. Thisyarn is generally produced with a process that entails adding, beforethe spinning phase, an antibacterial agent directly to the material thatwill be used to form the yarn. For preference, the added antibacterialagent comprises a dispersion of silver atoms or ions that give the yarnpermanent antibacterial properties.

In a preferred variant, in order to identify univocally the neck-tiesaccording to the present invention, the neck-tie bears the inscription“antibacterial” or the translation of that word into other languages.This inscription may be made in different ways, for example it may bepart of the design of the neck-tie, it may be embroidered on the fabricor it may be applied onto it.

In the example shown in FIG. 3 the inscription appears repeatedly, instripes 5, oblique and distanced from one another, that interrupt thebackground design of the neck-tie, giving the neck-tie a “Regimental”type appearance.

The neck-tie according to the present invention can be made with a solidcolour fabric or of a fabric that presents any sort of design.

Naturally, the principle of the invention holding good, the constructiondetails may vary widely with respect to what is described illustrated asa simple example.

1. Neck-tie characterised in that it is made with an antibacterial yarn.2. Neck-tie according to claim 1, wherein said yarn presents intrinsicantibacterial properties.
 3. Neck-tie according to claim 2, wherein saidyarn is obtained by means of a procedure that entails adding, before thespinning phase, an antibacterial agent directly to the material thatwill be used to form the yarn.
 4. Neck-tie according to claim 3, whereinsaid antibacterial agent comprises a dispersion of silver atoms or ions.5. Neck-tie according to claim 1, wherein said antibacterial yarnperforms a bactericidal function.
 6. Neck-tie according to claim 1,wherein said antibacterial yarn performs a bacteriostatic function. 7.Neck-tie according to claim 1, wherein the neck-tie bears theinscription “antibacterial” or the translation of that word into otherlanguages.
 8. Neck-tie according to claim 7, wherein said inscriptionmay be produced on the neck-tie in different ways: woven within thedesign of the neck-tie, embroidered on the fabric of the neck-tie, orapplied onto the fabric of the neck-tie.
 9. Neck-tie according to claim7, wherein said inscription appears repeatedly, in oblique stripes,distanced from one another, that interrupt the background design of theneck-tie.